Mycorrhiza

Mycorrhiza

Research domain

Mycology
Symbiosis

Definition

A dual symbiotic, often mutualistic, organ formed by a plant root and a soil fungus. In 90% of land plants, mycorrhizae allow the exchange of soil water and mineral nutrients, from the fungus, for sugars from the plant. In some plants, a modified mechanism allows the plant also to collect carbon from the fungus (mycoheterotrophy), which questions the mutualism in such cases.